Horse racing is one of the most attended spectator sports in the world. This is partly due to its nature as a gambling event. Many people, when they hear about “horse racing” often think about one of the principal forms of horse racing. In case you are surprised by this, you need to know there is more than just one form of horse racing. Here are some of them:
1) Harness racing – this horse racing form evolved from the chariot races of old. Usually, this form of horse racing involves the horses pulling the jockey on a two-wheeled cart. Another distinction of this horse racing form is the fact that the horses are raced in a specified gait. Unlike thoroughbred racing, this horse racing form calls for more strategy than speed. Since all horses move with the same gait, tactics are needed to win.
There are two types of this horse racing form based on the gait used:
a) Pacing – in this gait, the horse moves its legs laterally. This means that the right front and right back hooves strike the ground simultaneously. Pacing consists of the majority of harness races today. It is more popular because of the fact that pacing is the more exciting variety of this horse racing form.
In pacing, the horses are able to run faster and the gait comes more natural to them. Because of this, there are lesser pauses during a race. When a horse breaks the stride or starts to gallop, it must be slowed down until it can regain the gait.
b) Trotting – in this variety of the horse racing form, horses move the legs diagonally, which means that the right front leg and the left hind leg strike the ground simultaneously.
2) Thoroughbred racing – of course, we need to cover this most popular of all horse racing forms. Thoroughbred racing is often referred to as the sport of kings. Many people attend races with hopes of betting their cash on the right horse and winning a lot more money.
Thoroughbred racing is the most popular of all horse racing forms because of the fact that it is the most exciting. Although the “initial” excitement is provided by the fact that the horses competing in this horse racing form are faster than others, it is expounded by the fact that there are higher amounts at stake. This increased amount of cash is actually caused by the fact that people like to watch thoroughbred racing more than any other horse racing form. Do you see the cycle here?
There are, of course, subcategories within this horse racing form. People can’t just take a random sample of the thoroughbreds available and then let them loose in the track. Administrators need to make the race as even as possible in order to encourage betting.
A maiden race is a variety of this horse racing form which is participated by horses which have yet been untried in a race. Many people choose to bet in these events because of the fact that maiden races have nearly even odds.
Another popular variety of this horse racing form is the Graded stakes race. This variety of the horse racing form involves high class horses and high class prizes. A lot of cash changes hands at these events. Horses which compete in these events are often in the same class, gender and age. This means that all competitors are evenly matched in this horse racing form.
Horse racing is a kind of sport that is now popularly known as a betting game. But you have to take into account that the horse racing betting does not only refer to laying a bet on the horse with the most beautiful name or the one with the best odds. In fact some people have this perception that one has to be a horse racing expert to be a winner.
Here are some of the important things you must consider in making an effective horse racing betting system:
Distance
The distance that will be run by the horse to reach the finishing point is a very important factor that you have to weigh up before you pick out the horse that you will lay a bet on. If the distance is short, the horse has only little time to show its best performance. Conversely if the distance of the race is too long, there are several possibilities like the horse might get tired or the horse rider might drop off. Keep in mind that the safest distance of the horse race is in the range of 5 furlongs and not more than 3 miles.
Number of Runners
The number of runners is also a very crucial element that you should consider when betting. A horse’s chance of winning is greatly affected by the number of contenders in a race. If the field is big, then naturally, it means there’s large numbers of runners who will vie in the horse racing sport. It is quite tough to choose which horse will do well in the race where there are so many runners who compete with each other.
The Kind of Ground
Another important factor that you should take into consideration when betting on a horse is the kind of ground in which the horse will run. The rule of thumb is that the “going” must be excellent. Examine if the ground is soft or heavy. The smoothness or firmness of the “going” is also crucial in the race. The size of the horse’s feet has also an effect on the result of the race.
When the Last Race was Run
The last race of the horse is also another aspect that you have to think about before you pick out your bet. You must consider when the last time the horse have its race was. It is quite difficult to tell if the horse is in good shape or not when it has been vacant in the horse racing scene for a short time. Ideally, a good bet is a horse whose last race was in the current season or at least 28 days ago.
Check the Horses Form
You will notice that there are letters C and D indicated in the horses form. The C here indicates that the horse has been a winner over a certain track in the previous races while the D denotes that the horse has been a winner over the distance being run in the race. When there is C or D in the horses form, you should not think twice to bet on that horse. This indicates that they’re good runners.
Top Favorites
You can also consider those horses that are considered to be top favorites in the present season. Experts agree that there is a higher probability that these horses come first in the race. Hence, check out some favorites and their records in the racing field. If they have 3/1 or less in the betting, then, that’s an indication that they can be a good pick.
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